BLACKSBURG, Va. – Former Virginia Tech baseball player Gabe Ortiz has joined the Hokies’ coaching staff as the volunteer assistant coach, it was announced Tuesday by head coach Patrick Mason. This is the third coaching hire for Mason who took over the program six weeks ago.

“I am extremely happy to have Gabe returning to Blacksburg,” Mason said. “As a student-athlete here, Gabe exemplified all the qualities you look for in a leader both on the field and in the classroom. There is no doubt he will continue to do the same as he enters the coaching profession.”

Ortiz transferred to Tech from Daytona State College and played two seasons in Blacksburg before graduating in 2012 with a degree in sociology and a minor in business leadership. Due to injury, Ortiz was limited to just 68 games and 42 starts for the Hokies, but still recorded 41 hits, 35 runs and 19 RBI.

“It's truly an honor to head back to Blacksburg and have the opportunity to coach and learn alongside incredible coaches,” Ortiz said. “I have always had a passion for baseball and after I was done playing, I found myself missing baseball too much, so I decided to coach a travel team this past summer.

“I felt like it wasn't enough, so I contacted Coach Mason to see if he knew of any college teams looking for coaches. He told me he was, and that he would give me the opportunity to join his staff and I'm extremely grateful for that. I can't wait to head back to campus to start our journey to Omaha.”

Ortiz, a Notre Dame Academy (Middleburg, Va.) product who helped the Dragons to back-to-back state titles in 2006 and 2007, will be involved in many aspects of the baseball program.

He will join Mason, associate head coach Mike Kunigonis and assistant pitching coach Robert Woodard on the Hokies’ bench for the 2014 season.

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